Hibiclens –
pre-op skin protection before surgical procedures

Hibiclens, trusted by hospitals for over 40 years as a pre-operative skin wash, can help reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by germs that live on the skin.

Protecting yourself before surgery

A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that patients can get during or after surgery. They can happen on any part of the body where the surgery takes place and sometimes only involve superficial layers of the skin. Other SSIs are more serious – they can involve tissues under the skin, organs or implanted material.¹

Preparing for surgery

Many hospitals and healthcare facilities specifically recommend bathing with Hibiclens. If you don’t receive definite instructions, here’s how to prepare for your surgery:

• If you plan to wash your hair, use your regular shampoo; then rinse your hair and body thoroughly to remove any shampoo residue
• Wash your face with your regular soap or water only
• Thoroughly rinse your body with water from the neck down
• Apply Hibiclens directly on your skin or on a wet washcloth and wash gently; move away from the shower stream when applying Hibiclens to avoid rinsing it off too soon
• Rinse thoroughly with warm water and keep out of eyes, ears and mouth; if Hibiclens comes in contact with these areas, rinse out promptly
• Dry your skin with a towel
• Do not use your regular soap after applying and rinsing with Hibiclens
• Do not apply lotions or deodorants to the cleaned body area

You may be instructed to bathe multiple times with Hibiclens – be sure to follow your doctor’s orders!

Why is Hibiclens pink?

Hibiclens has been used in hospitals for many years as an antiseptic skin cleanser, and its color relates back to its acute care history. It is pink for identification purposes to prevent mistakes in the operating room.